Summary

  • Self-employed people in financial difficulty will have 80% of their monthly wage covered by the government

  • Man, 84, first UK prisoner to die after contracting coronavirus

  • More than 500,000 volunteers to help the NHS

  • Government orders 10,000 ventilators from Dyson

  • Updates on Thursday 26 March

  1. Teacher's online English classes attract 18,000published at 11:52 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    Lauren Potts
    BBC News

    Holly King-MandImage source, Holly King-Mand

    How great is this?

    An English teacher who took her lessons online now has more than 18,000 people tuning in for her classes.

    Holly King-Mand says the response to her sessions has been "overwhelming" but she is "very proud".

    The 36-year-old, from Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, only started streaming English Live, external on Facebook on Monday, but after just three online lessons has a worldwide following.

  2. My top tips for surviving a worrying situationpublished at 11:48 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    The Doctor
    The Doctor

    Here's what I do in any worrying situation:

    1. Remember you will get through this... darkness never prevails.
    2. Tell jokes, even bad ones - especially bad ones - I am brilliant at bad ones.
    3. Be kind. Look out for each other you won't be the only one worried.
    4. Listen to science and listen to doctors - they've got your back.
    5. Stay strong, stay positive - you've got this.
  3. Egg farmer tells of four-fold rise in gate salespublished at 11:44 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    Laurence Cawley
    BBC News

    A free-range egg farmer has seen a four-fold rise in sales to neighbours during the Coronavirus outbreak.

    Rob Norman outside his egg shedImage source, Rob Norman
    Image caption,

    Rob Norman's egg shed uses an honesty box system

    Robert Norman, who has 32,000 hens at the Norman Farming Partnership in Hickling, Norfolk, produces eggs mainly for Tesco.

    "It is great to see people buying from local producers. It is extremely worrying what is happening, but one positive thing is that people do seem to be embracing their local suppliers," he said.

    "The nature of farming is that farmers are usually self-isolating anyway. We are following necessary precautions here and everybody is pulling together."

  4. How do I protect myself from coronavirus?published at 11:40 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    James Gallagher
    Health and science correspondent, BBC News

    The best thing is regular and thorough hand washing,, external preferably with soap and water.

    Coronavirus spreads when an infected person coughs small droplets - packed with the virus - into the air.

    These can be breathed in, or cause an infection if you touch a surface they have landed on, then your eyes, nose or mouth.

    So, coughing and sneezing into tissues, not touching your face with unwashed hands, and avoiding close contact with infected people are important for limiting the spread.

  5. πŸ’ͺ NHS volunteers smash recruitment target πŸ’ͺpublished at 11:34 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    Jennifer Meierhans
    BBC News

    Here's something to be proud of today.

    The number of people who have volunteered to help the NHS in its fight against coronavirus has passed 500,000 - double the government's recruitment target.

    PM Boris Johnson said all 504,303 could now play an "absolutely crucial" role.

    The helpers are needed for delivering food and medicines, driving patients to appointments and phoning the isolated.

    ☺️

  6. Boxer Amir Khan offers venue to NHSpublished at 11:20 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    BBC Radio Manchester

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  7. GPs demand clarity over protective gearpublished at 11:14 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    Jennifer Meierhans
    BBC News Online

    GPs are demanding "urgent clarification" from the government on whether they should now wear protective equipment to examine all patients.

    Family doctors now wear it if they see a patient with suspected coronavirus.

    Dr in protective gearImage source, Getty Images

    But the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock to ask if GPs should wear it for all face-to-face consultations.

    It says patients with the virus but no symptoms could still infect staff.

    We've got the full story here.

  8. Coping with anxiety during coronavirus lockdownpublished at 10:59 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    David Smithson from Anxiety UK says the charity's experienced a big rise in callers since the outbreak of coronavirus.

    We've heard from people who've experienced anxiety before and how they're coping during this time.

    They also offer coping strategies - and things you can do at home if you're feeling anxious.

    Media caption,

    Coping with coronavirus anxiety

  9. Man, 84, is first UK prison coronavirus deathpublished at 10:55 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    HMP LittleheyImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    HMP Littlehey houses more than 1,000 male sex offenders

    An 84-year-old man has become the first British prisoner to die after contracting coronavirus.

    The inmate at HMP Littlehey, a category C male sex offenders' prison in Cambridgeshire, died in hospital on Sunday.

    He reportedly had underlying health issues.

  10. How to clean your smartphone safelypublished at 10:50 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    While you may want to clean your smartphone, some substances can damage the device.

    Dr Lena Ciric, a microbiologist from University College London, says you can effectively clean your phone using just household soap and water.

  11. πŸ‘ Clap for our carers πŸ‘published at 10:46 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    Jennifer Meierhans
    BBC News Online

    I'm back with something else we can feel good about today.

    Tonight people across the UK are being asked to take part in a huge round of applause to show their appreciation for all those working in the NHS.

    The Clap for our Carers campaign is asking for as many people as possible to clap their hands at 8pm from their gardens, front doors, and balconies.

    You can give yourself a clap too for doing your bit by staying at home.

  12. Parish council welds tennis court gates shutpublished at 10:35 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    Central Swindon North Parish Council said despite "repeated requests", people are still playing tennis in St Mark's recreation ground in Swindon.

    The council has now welded the gates to the tennis courts shut to stop people using it further.

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  13. Free parking for NHS staffpublished at 10:24 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    The government's confirmed some front-line workers will get free parking...

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  14. πŸ’ Florist hand-delivers flowers to doorstep πŸ’published at 10:18 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    BBC Look East

    Here's another example of people spreading joy.

    One of our viewers, Norma, sent us this picture of a gift which was delivered to her in Clacton, Essex, by Vanessa of Vanessa's Florists.

    FlowersImage source, Norma

    Norma said: "Her hug was passed on by signs from two metres away. Thanks Vanessa! Greatly appreciated and deeply grateful."

  15. What do you miss about sport?published at 10:06 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    BBC Sport

    Football fansImage source, Getty Images

    We asked what little things you miss about sport, while live action is suspended during the coronavirus crisis.

  16. Police in west Cornwall stop more than 150 vehiclespublished at 09:55 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    Miles Davis
    BBC News Online

    Police in the Penzance, Hayle and St Ives areas of Cornwall stopped and checked more than 150 vehicles on Wednesday under the new coronavirus government guidance.

    On their Facebook page, external Penzance Police warned driving to exercise at another location was not an essential journey.

    Police stopping carsImage source, Penzance Police
    Quote Message

    We will continue to carry out these checks because, like you, we want to keep Cornwall safe. Please share and let’s keep travel to an absolute minimum.

    Penzance Police

  17. Hoppings fair cancelled due to virus outbreakpublished at 09:47 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    The HoppingsImage source, Nick Lambert
    Image caption,

    The Hoppings on Newcastle's Town Moor attracts 300,000 people over nine days

    A travelling fair billed as Europe's largest has been cancelled amid the coronavirus outbreak.

    The Hoppings on Newcastle's Town Moor dates back to 1882 and usually attracts about 300,000 visitors over nine days.

    It was due to be held in June but organisers said it "simply cannot go ahead".

  18. πŸ‘ Mayor thanks people for staying at home πŸ‘published at 09:35 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    Jennifer Meierhans
    BBC News Online

    The Mayor of London has thanked people for staying at home.

    Well done everyone - we've got this lockdown...locked down.

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  19. Government orders 10,000 ventilators from Dysonpublished at 09:20 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    Simon Jack
    BBC Business Editor

    The government has ordered 10,000 ventilators from Dyson to help deal with the coronavirus crisis.

    The firm, headed by British inventor Sir James Dyson, said it had designed a new type of ventilator in response to a call on behalf of the NHS.

    VentilatorsImage source, Getty Images

    The order is still subject to the devices passing stringent medical tests but that is expected to happen quickly.

    Dyson has had hundreds of engineers working round-the-clock to design the ventilators from scratch. I've got all the details here.

  20. How many confirmed cases are there in your area?published at 09:11 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2020

    More than 9,529 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the UK, but the actual number of cases is estimated to be much higher.

    So far 463 people who tested positive for the respiratory infection have died.

    More than 87,400 people in the UK have been tested for the virus but were found not to have it.

    You can find out how many people have confirmed cases in your area here.